Cylinder piston structure



April 15, 1952 E. A. RocKwELL CYLINDER Pls'roN STRUCTURE Original Filed June 4, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR April l5, 1952 E. A. RocKwELl.

CYLINDER PISTON STRUCTURE Original Filed June 4, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l mE 3 SheetsL-Sheet 3 Edward /LP/oc/wel ATTORNEY April l5, 1952 E. A. RocKwELL v CYLINDER PISTON STRUCTURE Original Filed June 4, 1945 Patented Apr. 15, 1952 Edward A. Rockwell, cleveland, ohio Original application June 4, 1943, Serial No.

489,712, now Patent No. 2,448,465, dated August' 31, 1948. Divided and this application January 24, 1945, Serial No.l 574,321

11 Claims. (Cl. 60-54.6)

My, invention relates particularly to an apparatus embodyinga hydraulic cylinder'and piston which may be used for effectively coordinating the travelof the controlling and controlled elements of a hydraulic system.

This application is a division of my copending application on Pressure Fluid Follow-up Servomotor, Serial No. 489,712, filed June 4, 1943, now PatentNo. 2,448,465. y V

The object of my invention is to provide a cylinder and piston structure of an advantageous character v whereby hydraulically coordinated movement may be obtained in any desred apparatus.'` Another object is to provide a cylinder construction of this character involving a minimum of friction. vAnother object is to provide a piston head having a self-adjusting connection with the cylinder. Further objects of my invention' will appearY from the detailed description of the same hereinafter. d

While my invention is capable of being carried out in many different ways, for the purpose of illustration I have shown only certain forms-of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of `a locomotive reverse gear mechanism made in accordance with my invention;

Fig; 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Fig.` 3 is a vertical section of the valve used for delivering the hydraulic liquid under pressure to the controlling mechanism;

Fig.' 4V is alongitudinal section of the travel control cylinder used therein; and

Fig. 5 isa longitudinal section of the hydraulic cylinder for operating theair or steam valves.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, Ihave provided an operating handle I which may be located in the cab of a locomotive. the samebeing provided with a subsidiary 'hand lever 2 pivoted at 3 on the handle I and having a pivot 4 connecting it to a rod 5 normally pressed downwardly by a coil spring 6 supported on a lug 1 von the handle I. The rod5 acts as a pawl to engage a rack 8 on a sector 9 `carried in fixed position at any point in the locomotive cab.

a yoke I8 on a piston rod I9 having a piston 20 operating in a master cylinder 2|. The master cylinder 2| `is closed at-the top by a screw ring cap 2|a and has a rubberboot 22 between ,the

upper portion thereof and the piston rod I9, nuts 23 and 24 being provided to attach the boot 22 to the rod I9 by means of a screw-threaded sleeve 24a. The lower end of the master cylinder 2| is provided with a screw cap 25 having an air vent 26 and saidrcap 25 is screw-threaded to 1a yoke 21 With the aid of a lock nut 28. Said yoke 21, furthermore, has a pivot pin 29 connecting it to a plate 30 in said yoke having a stop flange.

3| overlying a fixed bracket 32, the plate 130 being lconnected to a spring-retaining rod 33 slidable ina projection34 on the fixed bracket 32, having holes 35 for securing the fixed bracket 32 `on any` desired support in the cab of the loco-'- motive. Around the rod 33 there is a coil spring 36 which is Vsupported by awasher 31 and nuts 38 and 39 on the lower endv of therod 33 so as to yield to avoid breakage from the backing up of pressure. l f

At its upper end the master cylinder 2| has a lateral passageway `40 in which there is screwthreaded a pipe 4| having a longitudinal passage-` [way 42 -and transverse apertures 43 and 44 to.

The sector 9 has a pivot pin Ill supporting the hand lever Furthermore, thehand lever has an'arm provided with a split end I2 adapted to be tightened by a nut I3 so as to lock in place a screw I4 in the end of the arm The screw l4-has an adjustable protruding end` l5 which is adapted.in its, end positio-n, to contact with the top `of a valve rod I6, as hereinafter referred to, for liquid compensation.

The army furthermore, has a pivot pin |1 intermediate `its ends to whichy there is connected connect with a longitudinal passageway 45 in a, fitting 46 through which the pipe 4| passes. TheA fitting 46 is screw-threaded to a valve casing 41 f and has therein a shoulder 48 for supporting a `s pring 49 which bears at its upper end against a valve 5| containing an annular rubber valvev member 52 which seats against a shoulder 53 on the valve casing 41. A valve stem 50 is connected to the valve rod I6 and the said valve rod |6 ,passes out of the valve casing 41 through a rubber seal 54 held in place by a washer 55 and ascrew cap 56 provided with a `packing 51. On the outer end of the pipe 4| there is a nut 58 to holdthe valve casing 41 4in place and adjacent to the vsame there is a screw-thread 59 to receive a nipple 60 having thereon a rubber pipe 6`|.A

i A .reservoir pipe fitting 62 is provided on a hand valve casing '63 provided with a hand valve 64 for shutting olf the liquid in the pipe 6| when desired. This hand' valvecasing 63 is screwed into an outlet opening 65 in the bottom of a reservoirA 66 adapted to be filled with hydraulic liquid, oil or any other suitable liquid, to be placed under pressure at the top of the reservoir 66 by com# pressed air supplied through an inlet opening 61having a hand valve casing 68 containing a` hand valve 69 for cutting off the compressed air when desired. The hand valve casing 68 Acarries a screw fitting 10 connected to a compressed air supply pipe ,-1 ladapted to befprovided from any 'suitable source, as for example the usual compressed air line of a locomotive. Above the valve 52, 53 there is a port 12, controlled by said valve, containing a screw fitting 13 which is connected to a rubber pipe14, the other end of which; is connected to the fitting 62.

A screw tting 15, located in a supporting pipe bracket 16 having holes 11 for attachment of the same in a fixed position to some part of the cap,

is connected to the rubber pipe 6 I. The bracket 16, furthermore, has a screw fitting 181forconv`4 necting it to a pressure liquidpipe 19.- The pipe 19 is connected by a fitting 80.to a T-pipejoint 8|. it to a rubber pipe 83 connected by a tting 84 to a. cylinder head 85 having an air bleederfscrew 86 of the usual construction. The cylinder head 85,furthermore, has a yoke 81 for connecting it The pipe joint 8| has a tting82tconnecting by means Vof a bolt- 88 to a supporting member 89--fastened'by means--ofa nut-90 to a vertical plateSl having sere-wed thereto -the T-pipe-joint Y' 8|-Which is securedbylscrews- 92 to a cylinder annular screw head-|88.=-Againstthe screw head lfthereis aI rubber seal |0|-held in place by Y an annular. ring .|92 fitting against a bushing |03 having longitudinal.v peripheraloil passageways |04.; ...Outside of the screw-threaded cylinder -99 thereislocated an `intermediate cylinder |IJ5'hav-- ing apiston |96..thereon.- .Adjacentto the piston lcthere .are a. series of rubber .packing `rings |01..and,.a 'retainerring `|08 held--in place -by `a split-ring...| 09 on the intermediatecylinder-I 05."Y

The other end of this intermediate cylinderl' passesut through a forward cylindenhea'd-HU connectedtothe cylinder 95 by screws. Adjacent .'..t.o the..zcylinder1head II)` thereY are' a. series Y of rubber Apacking .rings` ||.2; heldin place 4by 'a` ring I3 and a split. ringI I4.: .Thefforwardend f of the intermediatecylinder 05 ris .providedwith a breather opening |.|4a:and...is screw-threaded.

in a, splity ring end ||5of a pivot vbracket :H61 Furthermore, adja-'l heldin place `by abolt. I I1;

cent, the end of theaintermediate. .cylinder |05 there ,is aring I Ill-for holding in place arretain'er ring,` ,|9lo.cated in a recess .|20 on .a.,headf|2|.my of apistomrod |2,2,the surface of which is ground a f to be :perfectly-vcylindrical.; The .ringzl I9 has' clearances@ all. sides. .of .it ,to .permit .self aligne ment of. the ,piston |22.. :..The pivot bracket 1| 6 has-a .bushing. |23 and an oil opening |.24 nor-.l1 if mally closed by a plug |25 for 'connecting the bracket II 8 to a rockerarm `|26 whichisrfastened on a squareclendA I 2 1 Vof a rocker.shaft..|28, the I rocker arm.|26 having a split end |29 and bolt |30 for this purpose. The rocker shaft 28 passes through a valve chest gland |3| secured `to a.

rocker housing |32 Vby screws |33. At its top thehousing 32 hasa.-Tshaped.inlet pipe |34 provided .with-abranchpipe; |35 for connection.

to any1-suitable. source ofssupplyof-compressed.. I

air or'steam, as for instance the usual compressed air line of the locomotive, .and abranchp|36 con-A nectedly a fitting-|31 toV a pipe H|38 havingaL screw .fitting |39. which is connected tofan inletopening |48 inthe cylinder -95 to-communicate Withan annular chamber-|4| for returning the piston |06 by compressedair.

The annular chamber |4| may, also, be provided with a water draw-off cock |4|a in case steam is used instead of compressed air.

The rocker shaft |28 has thereon a bushing |42 supportir1g-fit-within the"`1o'cl er housing |32 and adjacent to the said bushing`|42 there is a ring |43 which abuts against a rocker |44 held in place on a. screw-threaded squared end |45 ofthe rocker-*shaft |28 by a nut |46. The rocker |44 has two arms |41 and |48 Which carry vertical slots` |49and |59 to cooperate with a ro-cker trunnion |5| passing -through a rocker trunnion block |52 whichis secured to a sliding valve member |53. rItwillvbe noted` that the rocker housing |32 isvconne'ctedbybolts. |54 to the top of the air cylinder` 94 above a fiat extension |55 on the latter, in which there are located a rearwardly directed angular passageway |56 leadingto the rear of the vcylinder 94Yand a similar `passageway |51 leading 'to the AfrontY ofl said cylinder.' .Thef

slidingvalve member |53 has-two aperaturesf'l58 and' |59 to connect alternately with the" passage--V ways |56 and |51 so Jas-to conveytl'ieretro'- or" therefrom the compres-'sed'air orsteam admitted chest for this purpose.

the said plate |53 has on= the 'underface"thereofYY a chamber sIIIII which-is adapted to conveyaway when brought intoreg'istrytherewithytheexhaust being-carried away by aV passagewayd6| leading to an exhaust port |B2.-V

The compressed air-thus admitted 'to either of the ends of'- the air cylinder 94 acts upon a'piston" |63c'onnected-to a pistonrod |64 which passes; outthrough a cylinder head-'|65 havingjjthej usual packing gland |66. The said piston'rod |64--has -as its enda pivot |61"for connctingit to a reach-rod4 *|68 having aA pivotal connection' |69 t abell-crank`lever VIII-'carried "on axed"' pivot |1| which in turn has a pivotal'connec`A tion |12 to a lifting link |13 connected in the usual way to a.l radius rod |14 adapted 'to drive thelocomotive in opposite directionsby V*being* moved into different positions for operatirga 'locomotive reverse gear v| 14a `of anydesired type but-which maybe, for example, "anyof thelo'lco motive reverse gears as set"forth' in Marks Me"' chanical Engineers Handbook,`v first "edition, .19.16,

clamp |8| provided with a fasteningscrewf |82 in said bifurcated end and 'a`fasteningfbc1tjla3 in the "split end thereof. Y` A long riblcerb oot |84` is attached'to the vclampIS'I at one `ve'ndNand is attached jat its other en dfo"asmilgtr'cimp |65 'having'a'screw |86 at its splitv end and a' screwY 81 at'its bifurcatdend,A the said "bifur-` carrieuewitmn abifureated'erleAY lan Jof a sieevj |81 and 'asupportig bracket |88 providedwitha Y |85, however, has arrinlet'v port |99 provided with the T-piperj'oint 'al'. The clement "also has" screwthreaded 'into Athe sainewhich has "at its A innermostend annular screwltii'readei head |95, adjacent to which there is a rubber seal |96 and an annular retaining ring |91 adjacent to a bushing |98. This cylinder |94 slides within an outer cylinder |99 which is screw-threaded in the clamp I8I, a breather opening 290 being provided in said outer cylinder. Furthermore, the foremost end of the outer cylinder |99 abuts against a ring so as to hold in place a ring 202 located in a recess 203 in a plunger 204, the surface of which is ground to be perfectly cylindrical. The ring 202 has clearances on all sides thereof to permit self alignment of the plunger 204. This plunger 204 serves to coordinate the travel of the manual lever with the rocker lever |26.

In the operation of my invention, the hand lever is shown in Fig. 1 in the middle position while the locomotive is at rest. When it is desired to operate the locomotive forwardly the hand lever is moved to the right, thereupon withdrawing liquid from the cylinder 95 so as to permit the piston |06 to move to the left in Fig. 5, which is followed by the entry of compressed air or steam into the chamber |4| at the rear of said piston |06. This accordingly shifts the position of the radius rod |14 into the position, in the reverse gear, which will drive the locomotive forwardly. This is accomplished by the movement of the rocker lever |26 to the left, which accordingly ,moves the valve member |53 tothe left so as. to bring the passageway |59 in communication with the passage |51, thus supplying air or steam to the right of the piston |63, which accordingly moves to the left while the left end of the cylinder 94 is exhausted through the passageway |56 and port |62. In the operation of the hand lever in this way the position of the hand lever will always be coordinated in travel to the radius rod |14, and, therefore, the reverse gear mechanism, owing to the plunger .,204 moving within the cylinder |94 as the latter is connected by the pipe |92 to the master cylinder 2|. Furthermore, upon the extreme forward movement of the hand lever the hand lever and the radius rod |14 will be brought into phase-each time by the opening of the valve 52, 53, due to the contact of the screw end l5 with the valve rod I6 and the readjust- `ment in the system of the hydraulic liquid or oil received from the reservoir 66 under the inuence of the compressed air supplied through the pipe 1|, resulting in passing compensating liquid from the reservoir 66-to the system or in the opposite direction, according to the expansion or contraction of the liquid. When the locomotiveis to be driven rearwardly the hand lever is moved to the left of the middle position, shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the liquid in the master cylinder 2| will be pressed into the cylinder 95 while thespring 36 is compressed somewhat to avoid undue acceleration, thus moving the rocker lever |26 in the opposite direction to that4 preyviouslydescribed and, accordingly, conveying the air or steam through the port |58 and passageway |56 to the forward end of the cylinder 94 while simultaneously exhausting the rear end of the cylinder 94 through the passageway |51 and the port |62. Also, during this movement, likel wise, the travel of the hand lever and radius rod |14 are coordinatedin the same way. Thus, in either direction of drive of the locomotive the engineer will always know the extent of the movement of the radius rod |14 by the position to control the forward or rearward movement of the locomotive with the greatest degree of precision. Also, the operation of the locomotive vin this way takes place with the utmost smoothness and with a minimum of manual eiort.

While I have described my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spiritof the same. Y

I claim: V

` 1. In combination, a hydraulic cylinder, a piston movably su-pported with regard thereto, locatedwithin but spaced from said cylinder, a seal closing one end of the cylinder, having a bushing, with a longitudinal peripheral passage, on one side and a cylinder head on the other side thereof, located between the piston and'cylinder, an enclosing sleeve, havingv a fluid-operated piston connected thereto, movable relatively to said cylinder, andan enclosing casing, having a fluid inlet port, for the fluid-operated piston.

2 In combination, a hydraulic cylinder, a piston movably supported with regard thereto, said piston being-located within but spaced from said cylinder, a seal located between the ypiston and cylinder, and ahead for said piston having a selfaligning laterally movable connection therewith enabling said piston to be movable laterally in all directions with regard to said head.

3. In combination, a hydraulic cylinder, a piston movably supported with regard thereto, said piston being located within but spaced from said cylinder. a seal located between the piston and cylinder, and a head for said piston, said head being located outside of said cylinder, having aV self-aligning laterally movable connection therewith comprising a loosely-fitting retaining member between the piston and head and laterally movable with regard to said head.

4. In a hydraulic cylinder having a plunger located in but spaced from said cylinder, means for operating the plunger, a movable cylindrical enclosure for the plunger capable of movement when the plunger is moved, a ring supporting the plunger from the cylinder, a iluted bushing for supporting said ring, an inlet and outlet passageway for the liquid moved by the plunger through the passageway, and a pivoted bracket having a self-aligning laterally displaceable ring for 4connection to said plunger by means of said ring outside of said cylinder.

5. In a hydraulic cylinder having a plunger located in but spaced from said cylinder, means for operating the plunger, a movable cylindrical enclosure for the plunger capable of movement when the plunger is moved, a seal contacting with the cylinder and plunger, and an inlet and outlet passageway for the liquid to move the plunger, said cylinder having a pivotal connection with a fixed support and said cylindrical enclosure being' provided with a pivoted bracket having a self-aligning connection to said plunger outside said cylinder.

6. In a hydraulic cylinder having a plunger lo.. cated in but spaced from said cylinder, means for operating the plunger, a movable cylindrical enclosure for the plunger capable of Vmovement when the plunger is moved, a seal contacting with the cylinder and plunger, and an inlet and outlet passageway for the liquid to move the plunger, said passageway having a flexible pipe connection with a fixed conduit and said cylindrical enclosure of the hand lever and, accordingly, is enabled being provided with a pivoted bracket having a self-aligning connection to said plunger outside said cylinder.

7. Inv a hydraulic cylinder having a plunger 1o- 7 cated in but spaced from said cylinder, means for operating the plunger, a movable cylindrical enclosure for the plunger capable of movement when the plunger is movcd,`a seal contacting with the cylinder and plunger, and an inlet and outlet passageway for the liquid `to move the plunger,l said cylinder having a pivotal connection with a xed support, said passageway having a flexible -pipe connection with a fixed conduit, and said cylindrical enclosure being provided witha pivoted bracket having a self-aligning connection to said plunger outside said-cylinder.

8. In combination, a hydraulic cylinder, a valveoperating piston movably supported with regard thereto controlling the admission of a pressure fluid 'for work performance, located within but spaced from said cylinder, a seal, having a bushing on one side and a cylinder head on the other sidethere'of., located between the piston and cylinder, an enclosingv sleeve, having a fluid-operated piston connected thereto, movable relatively to said cylinder, an enclosing casing, having a iiuid inlet port for receiving a manually controlled liquid, for operating the duid-operated piston, a second hydraulic cylinder, a second piston movably supported with regard thereto moved according to the admission of said pressure fluid, located within but spaced from said second cylinder, a second seal, having a bushing on one side and a second cylinder head on the other side thereof located between the second piston and the second cylinder, a second enclosing sleeve movable relatively to said second cylinder, supporting heads for said second hydraulic cylinder and second sleeve respectively, a fixed support having pivotal connections, respectively, to said first and second hydraulic cylinders, and a hydraulic inlet pipe mounted on said support having hydraulic connections to said iirst and second hydraulic cylinders.' respectively` 9. In combination, a hydraulic cylinder, a valve-operating piston movably supported with yregard thereto controlling the admission of a pressure fluid for Work performance, located within but spaced from said cylinder, a seal, having a bushing on one side and a cylinder head on the other side thereof, located between the piston and cylinder, an enclosing sleeve, having a huid-operatedpiston connected thereto, movable relatively to said cylinder, an enclosing casing, having a iluid inlet port for receiving -a manually controlled liquid, for operating the Huid-operated piston, a second hydraulic cylinder, a second-piston movably supported with regard thereto moved according to the admission of said pressure fluid, located within but spaced from said second cylinder, a second seal, having a bushing on one side and a second cylinder head on the other side thereof located between the second piston and the second cylinder, a second enclosing sleeve movable relatively to said second cylinder, supporting heads for said second hydraulic cylinder' and second sleeve respectively, a fixed support having pivotal connections, respectively, to said iii-st and second hydraulic cylinders, and a hydraulic inlet pipe, having a T-joint, mounted on said support having flexible hydraulic connections to said first and second hydraulic cylinders respectively.

10. In combination, a hydraulic cylinder, a valve-operating piston movably supported with regard thereto controlling the admission of a pressure fluid for work performance, located within but spaced from said cylinder, an enclosing sleeve, having a `fluid-operated piston connected thereto, movable relatively to said cylinder, an enclosing casing, having a huid inlet port for receiving a manually controlled liquid, for operating the fluid-operated piston, a second hydraulic cylinder, a second piston movably supported with regard thereto moved according to the admission of said pressure fluid, located within but spaced from said second cylinder, a second enclosing sleeve movable relativelyto said second cylinder, supporting heads for said second hydraulic cylinder and second sleeve respectively, a xed support having pivotal connections, respectively, to said rst and second hydraulic cylinders, and a hydraulic inlet pipe mounted on said support having hydraulic connections to said rst and second hydraulic cylinders respectively, said first and second enclosing sleeves having connecting means located therebetween coordinating the movements of said enclosing sleeves.

l1. In combination, a hydraulic cylinder., a valve-operating piston movably supported with regard thereto controlling the admission of a pressure uid for work performance, located within but spaced from said cylinder, an enclosing sleeve, having a fluid-operated piston connected thereto, movable relatively to said cylinder, an enclosing casing, having a uid inlet port for receiving a manually controlled liquid, for operating the fluid-operated piston, a second hydraulic cylinder, a second piston movably supported with regard thereto moved according to the admission of said pressure fluid, located Within but spaced from said second cylinder, a second enclosing sleeve movable relatively to said second cylinder, supporting heads for said second hydraulic cylinder and second sleeve respectively, a fixed support having pivotal connections, respectively to said first and second hydraulic cylinders, and a hydraulic inlet pipe, having a T-joint,

mounted on said support having ilexible hydraulic connections to said rst and second hydraulic cylinders respectively, said rst and second. enclosing sleeves having connecting means located therebetween coordinatingthe movements of said enclosing sleeves.

EDWARD A. ROCKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references( are of record in the le of this patent:

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